Perhaps you have heard about probate, in particular that it can be a complicated, time-consuming and stressful process. In many instances, it is all that and more. Here is a partial list of the duties involved in settling an estate in Florida:
- Locate and file the Last Will and Testament with the local court
- File required probate documents with the court
- Locate, inventory, custody, close and transfer personal assets/accounts
- Appraise and value all assets
- Pay debts and expenses associated with the last illness and funeral
- Ascertain, and notify, all known creditors of the estate
- Make payments to creditors, discharge obligations and obtain creditor releases
- Process and receive life insurance death benefits
- Secure personal residence and tangible personal property
- File appropriate tax returns (federal and state) and make appropriate tax elections
- Pay estate taxes and final personal income taxes
- Make decisions regarding the funding of marital and family trusts
- Provide professional investment management during the entire estate administration
- Obtain tax releases and closing letters from local courts, the IRS and state taxing authorities
- Make specific bequests, as well as partial and final distributions, to beneficiaries (including packing and shipping of tangible personal property)
- Provide complete detailed accounting to the local court and estate beneficiaries
At a time of tremendous loss, dealing with issues such as these is the last thing most families want to think about. Coping with the grief that accompanies losing a loved one is difficult enough. With that in mind, I am dedicated to relieving families of this burden, and making the probate administration process in Florida as stress-free and efficient as possible for everyone concerned.
If you have suffered the loss of a loved one, and are faced with the prospect of settling the estate through the Florida probate court, we invite you to contact me today to learn how I can help. I am a Probate Lawyer in St. Pete and in addition to dealing with all of the duties above, I can also:
- Help you determine whether probate is necessary or if you can use an alternative procedure
- Make all of the necessary court appearances on your behalf if probate is indeed necessary
- Often save tax dollars for those who receive money and property from the estate
- Help resolve disputes between the parties involved in an equitable manner
If you need assistance navigating the complicated waters of Probate Administration in Florida, don’t hesitate to contact me!
